News

Flexing Well Mannered Deterrence

Four B-52 bombers flew
simultaneous long-distance power-projection training flights over the Arctic
and North Sea from Barksdale AFB, La., and Minot AFB, N.D., on April 2, Air
Force Global Strike Command announced. "Exercises and operations such as
these bomber flights enable and enhance relationships with our allies and
partners, and allow others to understand what capabilities US Strategic Command
brings to the equation," STRATCOM Commander Adm. Cecil Haney said in a release. NATO
aircraft, including British Typhoons, Canadian F-18s, and Dutch F-16s,
practiced dissimilar air-intercepts with the B-52s en-route. Unlike recent
Russian bomber flights, each of the B-52s operated in "compliance with
national and international protocols and due regard for the safety of all
aircraft sharing the air space," Haney said. Exercise Polar Growl afforded
crews polar-navigation training, and tested command and control of simultaneous
deterrence sorties. B-52s also participated in several
NATO exercises and deployments in and around Europe last year.